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Media Contact: Tameka Kenan-Norman Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (252) 972-1333 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2018 Council recommends approval for budget Rocky Mount, N.C. - The Rocky Mount City Council held a budget session today (June 20) for the city of Rocky Mount’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget. A list of adjustments to the proposed budget was presented by City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney to the council, which would meet their required threshold of general fund operating reductions by $2,507,000. The council agreed on a reduction of operating expenses by $1.25 million and capital expenditures by approximately $1.26 million. While operating reductions continued to include deferring new staffing for Technology Services and a new wellness coordinator for Human Resources to FY 2020, removing the position of a third assistant city manager and deferring WiFi Connectivity to FY 2020 among other items, council did agree to provide funding for two initiatives they initially thought would have to be revisited. Partial funding will be provided for the HOPE Initiative, focused on assisting individuals with substance use disorders. The city will also fund a housing developer for the Rocky Mount Edgecombe Community Development Corporation (RMECDC). The city will also continue to provide funding for roof repairs of the Judicial Center and the Rocky Mount Senior Center. In the previous budget session, council noted that ample and safe housing is significant for the city of Rocky Mount. Building on that priority, Small-Toney rescinded a decrease in housing grant programs. A previous request by Councilmember Reuben Blackwell indicated that city sponsored housing programs like urgent repair, housing rebate and housing repair have approached the amounts available. Therefore, Small-Toney increased funding for housing programs from $400,000 to $500,000 for FY 2019. “One of council’s main priorities has been to provide more safe, healthy and affordable housing to the citizens of Rocky Mount,” stated Small-Toney when explaining why full funding was implemented again for the housing grant programs and for a housing developer for the RMECDC. “Ensuring the necessary funding for a housing developer will help the city to meet that goal. Plus, considering the RMECDC’s investments in our community and the return on tax investment, we would come to a stand-still without their assistance.” While some items were added and other areas increased in the proposed budget, SmallToney reassured council that they are still in line with their required reductions. “Council indicated that housing and a roof for the Senior Center, for example, were high priorities. We increased funding for those initiatives and a few others, but we made up for this in other areas of the budget.” The council recommended approval of Small-Toney’s amendments to the budget. A continued public hearing and a council vote on the budget will be held during a regular meeting of the Rocky Mount City Council on Monday, June 25 at 4 p.m. in the thirdfloor council chambers of City Hall. ###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2018
Council recommends approval for budget
Rocky Mount, N.C. - The Rocky Mount City Council held a budget session today (June 20) for the city of Rocky Mount’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget. A list of adjustments to the proposed budget was presented by City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney to the council, which would meet their required threshold of general fund operating reductions by $2,507,000. The council agreed on a reduction of operating expenses by $1.25 million and capital expenditures by approximately $1.26 million. While operating reductions continued to include deferring new staffing for Technology Services and a new wellness coordinator for Human Resources to FY 2020, removing the position of a third assistant city manager and deferring WiFi Connectivity to FY 2020 among other items, council did agree to provide funding for two initiatives they initially thought would have to be revisited. Partial funding will be provided for the HOPE Initiative, focused on assisting individuals with substance use disorders. The city will also fund a housing developer for the Rocky Mount Edgecombe Community Development Corporation (RMECDC). The city will also continue to provide funding for roof repairs of the Judicial Center and the Rocky Mount Senior Center. In the previous budget session, council noted that ample and safe housing is significant for the city of Rocky Mount. Building on that priority, Small-Toney rescinded a decrease in housing grant programs. A previous request by Councilmember Reuben Blackwell indicated that city sponsored housing programs like urgent repair, housing rebate and housing repair have approached the amounts available. Therefore, Small-Toney increased funding for housing programs from $400,000 to $500,000 for FY 2019. “One of council’s main priorities has been to provide more safe, healthy and affordable housing to the citizens of Rocky Mount,” stated Small-Toney when explaining why full funding was implemented again for the housing grant programs and for a housing developer for the RMECDC. “Ensuring the necessary funding for a housing developer will help the city to meet that goal. Plus, considering the RMECDC’s investments in our community and the return on tax investment, we would come to a stand-still without their assistance.” While some items were added and other areas increased in the proposed budget, SmallToney reassured council that they are still in line with their required reductions. “Council indicated that housing and a roof for the Senior Center, for example, were high priorities. We increased funding for those initiatives and a few others, but we made up for this in other areas of the budget.” The council recommended approval of Small-Toney’s amendments to the budget. A continued public hearing and a council vote on the budget will be held during a regular meeting of the Rocky Mount City Council on Monday, June 25 at 4 p.m. in the thirdfloor council chambers of City Hall.
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